Essendon coach James Hird has repeated his intent to keep coaching the Bombers following the resignation of club chief executive Ian Robson.

The Bombers are preparing for their "Dreamtime at the G" match against Richmond - the highlight of the AFL's Indigenous round - but Hird spent most of his time on Friday facing questions about the ongoing turmoil at the club rather than the upcoming game.

Club chief executive Robson resigned on Thursday, taking responsibility for the failings in the club's governance surrounding the controversial program.

Hird was asked whether he had considered his position in the light of the problems at the Bombers.

"I'm the coach of the Essendon football club, I love coaching this club," he replied, mirroring his response following Essendon's dramatic victory over Fremantle in round three.

"I intend to be the coach for a long time."

But Hird admitted the investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) into the club's supplements program in 2012 had been a burden on Essendon and its players, who are being interviewed over their knowledge of the program and the possible use of banned substances.

"We can't say it isn't a distraction, because it is," he said.

"But the majority of those interviews have now been done.

"ASADA will go away and contemplate their report - but for us it's about football and we're looking forward to it (Dreamtime at the G)."

It has been a tough week for the club, with Robson's resignation and the stabbing of player Nathan Lovett-Murray.

"It's never good when you get a call at midnight from one of your players," Hird said.

"Nathan is a very special person for this club - the way he's cementing relations between indigenous people and the rest of Australia, that's a story that should be told more.

"Thankfully he's fine, he'll be back training in a week or so. It was scary at the time but thankfully nothing's (come from it)."

Bombers pay respect to Dreamtime contest

When talk finally moved to the game against Richmond, Hird said Essendon was focussing on the team's game style as much as winning the game.

"We have huge respect for the game and what it means to everyone in Australia, to everyone who believes in equality of people," he said.

"It's about how we play the game but also about getting back to winning ways."

Essendon has lost two games in a row - to Geelong and Brisbane - raising fears of a mid-season slump similar to that suffered by the team in the last couple of seasons.

But Hird was bullish about the team's prospects.

"We're confident that's (a string of losses) not going to happen," he said.

"We've got a great injury list, unlike the last couple of years when we had a significant number of injuries.

"Training has been terrific ... we're confident we can come out and give a good performance tomorrow night."

The Bombers are bringing back Courtenay Dempsey and Leroy Jetta, who will add speed and rebounding ability to the team for the clash against the Tigers.

Hird said the club had a difficult time at the selection table picking three out of their four talls - Patrick Ryder, Michael Hurley, Scott Gumbleton and Tom Bellchambers - but Gumbleton is the one to miss out.

On Friday afternoon, Essendon confirmed that former Tattersall's chief financial officer Ray Gunston had been appointed as the interim chief executive to replace Robson.

"Ray is a great fit for the club, he is extremely capable and very well qualified with his extensive experience in corporate Australia," chairman David Evans said in a statement.

"He will bring great leadership and expertise to the role at an important time for the Essendon Football Club."

Essendon will now begin the process of finding its next chief executive.